Free webinars for student and young physician members

The Wisconsin Medical Society partnered with the Arizona Medical Association and the Missouri Medical Association to develop a webinar series for student and young physician members. Each one-hour webinar in this six-part series will air Sundays at 7:00 p.m. starting October 2. Participation is free, but separate registration is required for each session.

Register here for Managing Student Debt, which will be presented by Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® of WisMed Financial.

Participants will create a budget and evaluate personal debt/student loans. Topics will include:

• How much to spend today, save for tomorrow, and pay toward debt.
• The 5 ways to eliminate student loans including public service loan forgiveness.
• Which student loan income driven repayment plan is best for you and when to switch plans.
• How retirement savings, marriage, and tax filing status can change your student loan repayment.

Watch future issues of Medigram or click here to learn about upcoming sessions. Please contact membership@wismed.org with any questions.

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CMO Summit brings together community of physician leaders

Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, Mike Flesher, Jerry Halverson, MD, DFAPA, Don Lee, MD, MPH


Michelle Graham, MD, MME, FAAFP, Jo Pasiuk, MD, Bret Pasiuk, MD

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) proudly hosted the annual CMO Summit on September 22-24 at the Red Crown Lodge in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin. CMOs and physician leaders representing practices and systems from across the state gathered to discuss the successes and challenges of health care.

WisMed physician leadership was well represented with Board Chair, Jerry Halverson, MD, DFAPA; President, Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP; President-elect, Don Lee, MD, MPH; and CEO, Mike Flesher.

This was WisMed’s first in-person event since 2019 and the joy of being together was palpable and powerful. The three-day conference was filled with idea sharing, presentations, networking and a fantastic opportunity to mingle with other influential decisionmakers in an idyllic setting. Wonderful conversation focused on physician burnout, workforce, rural health needs and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and more.

We greatly appreciate the attendees and speakers. A huge thanks to the following sponsors for making this event possible: United Health Care, Pfizer, Sanofi, Centivo/Business Health Care Group, WPS, Rogers Behavioral Health and Wisconsin Health Literacy.

It was wonderful to be with colleagues representing health care throughout the state, and plans for the 2023 Summit are already underway!

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Prescription for a Healthy You encourages medical careers and healthy habits

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is excited to be back in person with Prescription for a Healthy You at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County with medical students from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s (UWSMPH) Primary Care Clerkship program’s Community Health Engagement Project.

The Foundation holds Prescription for a Healthy You in various forms at Boys and Girls Clubs around the state and has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County for ten years. The primary purpose of Prescription for a Healthy You is to encourage kids to consider careers in medicine while enforcing the healthy habits of body wellness including eating healthy foods, getting active, drinking water and practicing mindfulness. Medical students lead club members in a variety of activities such as preparing healthy snacks, learning about DNA and genetics, organ demonstrations, mindful breathing and the benefits of exercise.

According to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, there is evidence to suggest that “greater workforce diversity may lead to improved public health, primarily through better interactions between patients and health care professionals.” Working with the Boys and Girls Club program allows the Foundation to reach children from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and expose them to some of the career possibilities in health care.

Amy Holzer, a UWSMPH medical student and recent participant noted, “On a personal level, one relationship that was perhaps less apparent, but I felt was equally significant and meaningful, was the connection between the identity of “student” as shared between us as medical students and the children attending the Boys and Girls.” She added, “There is something special about teaching that renews one’s joy in learning. As medical students, we are intrinsically eager to learn, and the students attending the Boys and Girls Club were also very eager to learn. While the level of detail may be different, the awe in an 8-year old’s eyes when they are shocked to be holding a brain in their hands is not unlike the reactions from my classmates and me when we were in the anatomy lab a year ago.”

The Foundation is proud to play a role in fostering these experiences and encouraging a sense of wonder and awe in children who have the potential to be our future medical and health care leaders.

If you are interested in bringing Prescription for a Healthy You to your community, contact Foundation Program Coordinator Jaime Craig at jaime.craig@wismed.org or 608.712.4902.

These programs are made possible by donations from physicians across the state and others who support the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation. You can support programs like Prescription for a Health You by contributing to our Brighter Future Club.

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Recording of abortion law webinar available for WisMed members

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members can access the recording of the September 20 abortion law webinar, “Providing Patient Care Post-Dobbs: A Look at Wisconsin Abortion Law.” Developed to support WisMed members with questions surrounding the status of Wisconsin’s abortion-related law following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022, legal experts from the Madison law firm Pines Bach discussed the current legal landscape.

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist and a leader in preserving reproductive rights, also provided a medical perspective during part of the program. Click here to watch the recording. Member login is required.*

*Accessing the webinar requires your WisMed username and password. Click here to retrieve your username or password, or call 866.442.3800 or email membership@wismed.org for assistance.

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Reminder: September 30 deadline for feedback on WisMed Board decisions on policy proposals

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members can weigh in on the recent action of the WisMed Board of Directors (Board) on four policy proposals through Friday, September 30. WisMed members can register their support, opposition and/or comments on those Board actions via PolicyLink. This feedback is advisory to the Board.

To participate in the comment period:

1. Visit policylink.wismed.org
2. Login with your WisMed username and password*
3. Click “Comment on Proposal” in the top menu
4. Select “Vote on Board Action”
5. Click on a blue proposal title – you will see the original proposal, the Policy Review Committee’s recommendation and the Board action
6. When ready, click on agree, disagree, or neutral in regards to the Board's action and submit any comments if desired in the text box
7. Click “Submit Comment” button at the bottom of the page

Have a policy that you want to submit for consideration?
While in PolicyLink click on “Submit Proposal” (in the menu bar at the top of the page) and enter your proposed policy. Policies submitted during this period will fall into the next submission funnel.

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD with any questions.

*PolicyLink requires your WisMed username and password. Click here to retrieve your username or password, or call 866.442.3800 or email membership@wismed.org for assistance.

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Last call for student loan October 31 deadline

If you made student loan payments that didn’t qualify toward forgiveness, act now to correct your record. The deadline to apply for temporary expanded public service loan forgiveness (TEPSLF) is October 31. This temporary program allows more borrowers to qualify for public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), which erases federal student loan debt after 120 qualifying payments.

If any of the following are applicable, TEPSLF is right for you.

• You have federal student loans that don’t qualify for PSLF such as Federal Family Education Loans or Perkins loans.
• You made payments on your student loans, but you were not enrolled in one of the income-driven repayments plans.
• You made qualifying payments before consolidating loans.
• You made payments that were late or not for the full amount due.
• You did not receive credit while working full time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employers include any level of government, not-for-profit 501(c)(3), and not-for-profit organizations without 501(c)(3) status that provide services such as emergency management, safety, law, education, health or library services.

What should you do next?

• Review the process outlined by the Federal Student Aid office.
• Use the PSLF Help Tool to determine your next step(s) and to obtain the proper form.
• Contact MOHELA, the new loan servicer for the PSLF program, with questions.

To learn more and for additional details:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Join the National Medical Health Collaborative’s student loan webinar on October 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Please join us for one or all of the upcoming education sessions on Medicare, Year-end Tax Planning and 6 Keys to Retirement. Register here.

For personalized help eliminating debt, investing smart and securing retirement, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®
WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

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Reminder: behavioral health services for WisMed members

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) is proud to offer behavioral health services options for our members state-wide. WisMed has partnered with Marvin to provide confidential counseling and coaching services with flexible hours. Board certified psychiatrists and licensed psychologists are available via teletherapy when you need them.

WisMed members can register online to get started or call with questions. Members may choose to pay out of pocket at a special WisMed discounted rate or have the services billed to their insurance. Your initial appointment will be within 72 hours of your outreach. 

To reach Marvin, call 424.322.6881, visit meetmarvin.com/wisconsin or scan the QR code on the flier.

Additionally, members of Dane County and La Crosse County Medical Societies can access LifeBridge Physician Wellness Program. This completely confidential offering provides up to six free coaching/counselling sessions per year with a psychologist. Appointments are available via telemedicine and are scheduled within 72 hours.

Members of LCMS and DCMS can learn more and access this member benefit here. For information on how to launch Lifebridge Physician Wellness Program in your county, please contact Jim Lorence.

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DHS offers free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has launched an online portal for Wisconsinites to order free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests directly to their home. Initial supplies will allow each household to receive one package containing five tests. Orders can now be submitted on the Say Yes to COVID Test webpage.   

Please share this service with your patients and community-based organizations who reach vulnerable and at-risk populations, including those who may not have access to reliable internet or need additional support placing an order.

Please note, check before throwing out any package of COVID-19 self-test that may be expired! The FDA has extended the expiration dates for many of the COVID-19 self-tests, including tests by iHealth which are now shipping out through the Wisconsin Say Yes! COVID Test program. To check if your package has an extended expiration date, find more information here for iHealth and here for additional FDA-authorized brands. 

Wisconsinites can access a COVID-19 test by:  

• Purchasing self-tests through pharmacies, retail outlets or online. Self-tests are widely available at pharmacies and other retail stores across the state. 
• Using health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare plan to cover the cost of at-home tests. Private insurers and some Medicare plans continue to cover the cost of eight rapid COVID-19 tests per member each month. Members of BadgerCare Plus and most Wisconsin Medicaid programs can also receive COVID-19 tests from Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies using their ForwardHealth ID card. Individuals are encouraged to contact their health insurance program for more information.
• Visiting a free local community testing site. There are currently over 500 community testing sites across the state.
• Contacting their local or tribal health department, primary health care provider or community health center to help find a test near them.  

Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should take a test immediately. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should take a COVID-19 test five days after being exposed to someone with COVID-19. Those who test positive with a COVID-19 self-test should stay home, separate themselves from others and notify close contacts of exposure. 

For questions about test kits received through the Say Yes! COVID test program, please email customer support at syct-orders@careevolution.com. If you have additional questions regarding At-Home COVID-19 Self-Tests, please visit the FDA At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions website. For free, confidential support placing an order for a household's test kit or finding health care and community resources nearby, dial 211.

Thank you for your continued service and dedication to COVID-19 efforts.

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